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Google Dropping Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync

Submitted by gma on Sun, 12/16/2012 - 04:35

Hello, platform wars!

(David Murphy PCMAG) Google has officially announced that it's removing support for Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol (Google Sync) as of January 30, 2013. Those currently using Google Sync to connect their mobile devices to their Gmail will remain unaffected, but new users will not be given the option to use Google Sync.

The company is suggesting that those looking to synchronize their non-Android devices up to their Google accounts use a combination of CalDAV, CardDAV, and IMAP for Google Calendar, Contacts, and Gmail respectively.

So what does that mean for mobile users? In short, here comes the fun.

The situation isn't quite so dire for those sporting one of Apple's iPhones, as the company natively supports both CalDAV and CardDAV for data synchronization. Users will no longer be able to "Add" their Gmail accounts, Calendars, and Contacts via Microsoft Exchange – which basically means that iPhone users will be stuck having to use a non-push-friendly IMAP connection to synchronize their Gmail to the iPhone's Mail app. Unless, of course, they just download Google's Gmail app, which is the more likely (and preferred) solution for those looking to receive push notifications from one's Gmail account.

And then there's Microsoft.

Specifically, Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. Unlike Apple and Google, Microsoft does not currently support CalDAV or CardDAV on its major mobile platform. That leaves Windows Phone users without a convenient way to synchronize their contacts or calendars with their Google account.

Worse, new users looking to connect up to their Gmail accounts will have to use IMAP following Google's changes, which can introduce significant delays (compared to instantaneous receipt) between when an email reaches one's Gmail account and when one's Windows Phone is notified of this fact.

And with Google representatives going on record earlier this month to state that the company doesn't appear to have much of an intention to develop apps for Microsoft's platform at this point, that leaves Windows Phone users in a bit of a lurch.

The move is just one more salvo between the two technological giants, who have each spared little in attacking the other via the airwaves or the hardware as of late. They've squabbled over Android patents – with Google accusing Microsoft of "getting into bed" with Apple to wage, "a hostile, organized campaign against Android" -- antitrust complaints have been thrown about in Google's European market, there was that whole bit about Google accusing Microsoft of copying its search results on Bing, there's Microsoft's "Scroogled" website that accuses Google of delivering shopping search results based on how much retailers paid to be there… the list goes on.

At the end of the day, consumers pay the price in the Microsoft/Google squabble. Windows Phone users are now left with one of two hopes: That Microsoft will scramble to find a solution for syncing up with Google's services, or that Google will capitulate and build a Gmail app for their platform.